Device for tapping beer-casks



(No Model.)

J. W. L. GOIT & J. R. MONAMARA.

DEVICE FOR TAPPING BEER GASKS, &c.

No. 349,210. Patented Sept. 14, 1886.

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UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN V. L. COIT AND JOHN R. MQNAMARA, OF NORXVIOH, CONNECTICUT.

DEVICE FOR TAPPING BEER-CASKS, 8L0.

SPECIFI'ZCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,210, dated September 14, 1886,

Application filed November 12, 1885. Serial No. 182,514. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN T. L. Corr and JOHN It. MGNAMARA, both citizens of the United States, residing at Norwich, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Devices for Tapping Beer- Oasks, which improvements are fully set forth and described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view of our completedevice as it appears ready for use. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same; and Fig. 3 is a view of the inner end of said tapping device, showing the slots through which the'liquid passes in the act of drawing.

Our invention is in that class of devices by means of which the bungs of beer-casks are forced inward in the act of tapping, a spigot of peculiar construction being first screwed a slight distance into the head of the cask, as hereinafter more fully described.

Our object is to produce, at a comparatively low cost, a tapping and drawing device which will be strong in its parts, powerful in its action, and in which there is no opportunity given for the liquid to leak or ooze out while in the act of tapping a fresh cask.

\Ve are aware that there have been various tapping devices patented; but, so far as we are acquainted with the state of the art, many if not all of said devices allow a portion of the liquid to leak out while in the act of tapping, causing a loss of beer and soiling everything it comes in contact with.

Briefly described, our tapping device consists of a metallic cylinder having one end threaded to screwinto the bung-hole, and having a rod screwed into or through said cylinder, and adapted, when screwed home, to carry the bung before it and force said bung into the barrel or cask. Said rod is also provided with an annular packing, which, as the bung is forced forward, engages a seat in said cylinder, to form a valve to shut off and prevent the outward flow of liquid.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the cylinder of the tapping-spigot, said cylinder being provided with a coarse external screwthread at one end, slightly tapered, as shown, and a squared or octagonal collar, 2, to receive desired. The outer end of rod 4 carries a hand-wheel, 5, and rotates in a threaded collar, 6, screwed into cylinder 1. A stuffi ng-box, 7, may also be added to said threaded collar to insure a tight joint when drawing under high pressure. It will now be understood that by rotating the hand-wheel 5 rod 4 may be made to travel lengthwise through cylinder 1.

8 in Fig. 2 represents a section of a barrelhead, and 9 the usual wooden bung. \Vhen about to tap a barrel, said bung is driven inward a distance sufficient to allow the end of cylinder 1 to be screwed firmly into the head, as shown in said Fig. 2. The hand-wheel 5 is now rotated toward the right hand, and as rod 4 travels lengthwise it forces the bung before it into the barrel. In order that the beer may pass from the barrel into the chamber 3 and thence through an opening, 10, leading outward from said chamber, we have provided grooves 11 in the opening, through which the threaded end of rod 4 passes. It will now be evident that unless some means is provided to prevent the flow of beer outward it would escape in a continuous stream through the channels described; but we prevent such escape by forming an integral. collar, 12, on rod 4, and placing a washer, 13, of rubber or similar flexible material, on the inner side of said integral collar. As rod 4 is screwed forward to force the bung out of its scat, this packing 13 engages the endwall of chamber 3, forming a tight valve and preventing the further flow of liquid. V

A suitable pipe may be connected with the opening 10 to conduct the liquid to a counter or other desired point; or, if preferred, said liquid may be drawn direct from said opening 10, in which latter case our device serves the purpose of an ordinary faucet.

We are aware that previous to our invention a faucet has been constructed consisting of a tube, a sliding plunger therein, and an educ tion-pipe connected with the tube and provided with a stop-cock for controlling the flow of liquid. Our invention differs essentially from sueh construction. in that our valve is formed by the rod whieh forces the bung from the barrel, thereby dispensing with the use of an additional parti. 0., a plug or cook-and e1- i'eetually preventing the entrance of the liquid even to the tube when said valve is elosed.

XVe are also aware that a gage-cock for steamboilers has been provided, consisting; of a tube, a rod loeated therein and having a handle on one end, and a valve on its other end, whieh valve is loeated outside of the tube, and whieh when being; closed is drawn toward the tube. This construction, however, eould not be used as a substitute for our invention, sinee, if the rod were moved to foree the hung from the barrel it would also remove the valve from its seat and allow a eonsiderable quantity of liquid to escape before the valve could be returned to its seat by turning the rod.

Having thus deseribed our invention, we claim The eoinbi nation, with the body portion having one end threaded exteriorly to enter the barrel, said (,XtQIiOIi Y FhlGtUiCti portion being provided with an interior-threaded passage having longitudinal grooves, said body portion being enlarged, as at 3, to form a valveseat, of arod having a threaded end engaging the interiorly-tbreaded part of the body por tion, a valve onsaid rod, said valve being loeated in rear of the threaded portion ot' therod and within the enlarged portion3, and adapted to elose the threaded passage in the bod v portion, the end of said rod extending bevund the bod portion when the valve is on its seat, as set forth.

JOHN \V. L. (.Oll. JOHN R. NUYAMARA.

Witnesses:

FRANK H. ALLEN, TYLER J. HOWARD. 

